PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has ordered a state of emergency and instructed public schools to close in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Officials have revealed one more person who tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the state's total to nine.
Noem says a drop-off in positive test results and the absence of signs of community spread is “encouraging." But she is taking the step of ordering the state of emergency as a “proactive” measure.
Noem has ordered all public schools to close, high school sports to postpone games, and state employees to work from home.